After years of seeking school sports equality, women have surpassed men in one area: head injuries. Girls are more likely to sustain concussions than their male counterparts, and the possible reasons may be societal as well as anatomical. Males generally have thicker, stronger necks, which help absorb the impact; but boys also are supposed to be tough, and many may try to hide or downplay the extent of their injuries. To solve the problem, female athletes are turning to protective headgear and more aggressive training methods to build up the neck muscles. Gregory’s short article illustrates the trend with statistics as well as a few anecdotes.

Dour predictions say that economic conditions will have a negative impact on holiday shopping. Bah humbug, says Gross. The stat-heads forget one thing: gift-buying at holiday time is not discretionary — it is compulsory. Sure, oil prices are up, housing sales are down, and China keeps putting out poisonous products, but at the end of the day shoppers will be as plentiful as holiday fruitcakes. “Analysis” may not be the proper term here, but Gross’ outlook is a deft vehicle for jokes at the expense of grim predictors.

Where there’s no will to feed America’s hungry, there’s no way. Food pantries and soup kitchens are receiving less donations than ever as the Bush Administration, which prefers not to acknowledge such a depressing domestic problem, continues to spend freely in other areas, including war abroad. With solid evidence from sources such as the proposed farm bill, Quindlen makes a powerful call for politicians to stop their “pious sanctimony about gay marriage and abortion” and start addressing one of the most basic human needs.

We’ll Still Respect You in the Morning: 22 Esteemed Actors and Actresses Unafraid to Appear Nude –

From the ridiculous (William H. Macy) to the sublime (Halle Berry), this piece chronicles movie stars who aren’t afraid to put it out there in the name of art. With comments selected from the Celebrity Nudity Database (think IMDB for skin), they are rated not so much for physical appearance and appeal as they are for their ballsiness, so to speak. Surprisingly, the writers save their least complimentary comments for some actors who are considered among the sexiest in the business, at least with their clothes on.

“In THE GREATEST GENERATION, veteran newsman Tom Brokaw examined the accomplishments and sacrifices of an America contending with the shadow of World War darkening daily life. He seeks to recreate that feeling in BOOM!

“The Baby Boomers have seen innumerable changes in the years following World War II — an improvement in rights for women and minorities; technological advancement; revolutions in popular culture and the arts, among others. Brokaw reports on and interviews scores of “boomers” to discuss how coming of age (primarily) in the 1960s changed their lives.

Should Hillary Pretend to Be a Flight Attendant?
Several studies indicate that men are intimidated in the presence of bright, accomplished women. As a result, many women downplay their success in order to find perceived happiness with a suitable companion. Is this a role Hillary Clinton should take as she competes for the Democratic nomination with all those men? Dowd suggest not in this research-packed column, and hopes that the male of the species will evolve sufficiently — and quickly — enough to accept her viability.

Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama sounds off — mainly on Hillary Clinton — in this brief, softball-laden interview. Going on offense, Obama argues that Clinton shouldn’t claim mistreatment because of her gender, and that while she deserves some credit for Bill’s successes, she also deserves a measure of blame for the weakness of that administration’s health care policies. Obama also gives a reluctant approval to the idea of driver’s licenses for illegal aliens, and refuses to take a position on UFOs (really).